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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Review- The Stopover by Deepa Pinto and Ram Prakash

Goodreads Summary:

4 stories, in 4 locations, brought alive with over 100 photos.

The Stopover is a book for those who believe that every new place we visit and every culture we experience enriches our lives and that at every stopover in the journey of life is an exciting new treasure trove. It has stories of 4 such stopovers, a combination of fiction & fact brought alive through photographs.

I was surprised to receive a message from co-author of TheStopover, Deepa Pinto asking for my opinion on the idea of a photo-fiction
book, the first of its kind. When I checked out The Stopover website, I was completely intrigued and mesmerized by the whole
concept.

The Stopover, the brainchild of Deepa Pinto and Ram Prakash,
is a photo-fiction book, consisting of four elegant and charming stories titled The
Tibetan Wheel Of Wisdom, A Rocking Horse Can Gallop Too, The Sun Shines Forever
and I Hear Them Calling, along with some really brilliant photos of the Indian cities
where the stories are set. When it comes to India, I think she is best
described in pictures and a few words, which is exactly what The Stopover is
about. It’s all about India in her shining glory!

The Tibetan Wheel Of
Wisdom is a story that took me by surprise. Set in Leh, a peaceful and calming
destination, I actually felt peaceful while reading this rather enchanting
experience of Varun who embarks on a visit to Leh to get away from his hectic
schedule and depressing heartbreak. The pictures here are lovely, just like
Leh.

‎A Rocking Horse Can Gallop Too is a simple yet
extraordinary story about family and love. Vishwa and Kailash, two brothers who
reunite after years and realise that their lives aren’t all that different, will
be remembered for a long time. The pictures in the second story are colourful,
vibrant and really mesmerising!

Before The Sun Shines Forever, the Todas from
Ooty were just a part of my Geography text book in school. I now feel
enlightened to know so much about them, they're a wonderful tribe from whom we
have a lot to learn! This is the story of brothers, Deva and Vishwa who, in
spite of their contrasting personalities, are grounded and respectful towards
their people. The pictures here take you through a visual Ooty journey.

‎I Hear Them Calling is a lovely story about how
the youth can after all make a difference! I loved reading about Vikram and
Deepika, fresh graduates who are ready to step into the real world and start
living life by their own terms. The sea life pictures here were mind blowing.

The Stopover is an altogether new and refreshing experience
by way of which one journeys into a land full of surprises and grandeur. The Stopover has left me speechless. It truly
is a remarkable piece of art as I like to call it. The attention here is on the
photos, which are enchanting and capture beauty in its natural, raw and fresh
form. Apart from the photos, the writing in itself is absolutely stunning. Each
story has a hidden message to convey while at the same time it gives a glimpse
into the vast cultural euphoria that India is. Deepa Pinto and Ram Prakash
deserve a huge round of applause for introducing the captivating concept of
photo-fiction in writing and making it a reality.